INDIANAPOLIS -- While Super Bowl XLVI is nearly four years away, Indianapolis is already racking up volunteers eager to help the city pull off a huge feat.

Within hours of Indianapolis getting the hosting gig for the 2012 game, hundreds of people had already volunteered, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

Most of the action a Super Bowl fan sees happens on the field, but there is plenty going on behind the scene. Organizers said 8,000 volunteers are need to pull off a successful Super Bowl.

"Today when I opened my e-mails, I had 100 e-mails," said Susan Williams of the Indiana Sports Corporation. "Half of those were from people who said, 'Congratulations, sign me up. I'll do whatever.' So, there is a lot of excitement about it."

Anyone who would like to help can go to the Indiana Sports Corporation's Web site to fill out an application.

Williams said there had already been 900 sign-ups since the city won the bid.

Scott Liose has been volunteering since 1973, working the Pan American Games, the NCAA Final Four and Olympic events.

In his regular job, Liose works for Artistic Awards, which makes and sells trophies and plaques. Liose said he's eager to volunteer.

"I've worked with security, traffic control, people control, registration, volunteer check-in -- all those kind of things," Liose said. "Really, wherever they would need me … I'll be happy to do it."

The city's greatest volunteer challenge was in 1987, when 17,000 volunteers pitched in for the Pan American Games. Volunteers who work the Super Bowl will likely get some nice parting gifts.

"We'll put them in a nice shirt and, since it's wintertime, probably a nice jacket and hat and maybe some mittens, depending on the weather," Williams said. "They'll have that forever. People still have their volunteer apparel from the Pan Am Games … and they are very proud of it."

Volunteers can either make a three-year commitment or a one-week commitment.